About this calculator
Takeoff for Nutec fibre-cement building plank cladding (Vermont or Classic), with timber battens, nails and external corners.
How it’s calculated
Area = wall length × height + gables − openings. Planks = area × (1 + waste) ÷ (cover × 3.6 m), where cover = plank width − the 25 mm minimum lap Everite gives (200 mm for a 225 mm plank, 125 mm for a 150 mm plank). Battens run vertically at 600 mm centres, so battens in metres = area ÷ 0.6. Nails are counted at one per plank at every batten.
Worked example
With these inputs:
- Wall length to clad
- 20 m
- Wall height
- 2.4 m
- Gable ends
- 2
- Gable width
- 6 m
- Gable height
- 2 m
- Openings area
- 4 m²
- Outside corners
- 4
- Plank
- Vermont (timber grain) 9 × 225 × 3,600 mm
- Waste allowance
- 10%
the result is:
- Planks needed
- 86 planks
- Net wall area
- 56 m²
- Cover per plank
- 200 mm
Tips from the trade
- Make two timber lap gauges to keep the lap even as you work up the wall.
- Use copper nails near the coast. On light steel frames, fix with No. 8 × 35 mm bugle head drywall screws.
Results are estimates for planning and pricing. Check quantities against your drawings, the manufacturer’s data and SANS 10400 (the National Building Regulations) and your local municipality before ordering.